Here’s what we know about OSHA’s investigation of the Amazon warehouse where 6 died
Federal workplace safety officers investigating the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville where six workers were killed in an EF-3 tornado on Dec. 10, will not be examining the type of construction methods used for the building or whether the structure met building codes, a spokesman said.
Investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, will review whether Amazon had a “proper emergency action plan,” U.S. Department of Labor spokesman Scott Allen said in an interview.
OSHA would “issue citations and propose monetary penalties if violations of workplace safety and or health regulations are found,” according to a news release from the agency on Monday.
During a press conference on Monday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the building’s construction will be reviewed to ensure it was completed to code. He also said building codes in general should be reviewed in light of the increase in extreme weather events.
“Obviously there is an investigation going on to make sure all the code was followed in the building of the building and to find out exactly what occurred here,” he said.
Jordan Abudayyeh, a spokeswoman for Pritzker, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday or Thursday about which state agency is handling that investigation.
A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Labor said the state agency investigates workplace safety issues involving public institutions such as police departments, fire departments and schools. Illinois OSHA does not investigate private businesses.
Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback was asked about the investigation and he referred the Belleville News-Democrat back to OSHA.
Federal OSHA investigation
As far as the federal OSHA investigation of Amazon’s emergency action plan, Allen said the agency will interview company officials. It also will find out if there was a “safety officer” at the worksite and interview that person.
Investigators will work to determine “whether all the OSHA standards were being followed,” Allen said.
OSHA has six months to complete its investigation.
An Amazon spokesperson has said that workers were directed to go to a “shelter in place” location on the north side of the building and that the company will cooperate fully with the OSHA investigation.
The six people killed in the warehouse were employees of companies contracted by Amazon, the spokesperson said.
Allen said he could not yet release any specific information about the Amazon warehouse investigation and that it could be “several months” before the OSHA report is complete.
“They’re not going to address anything specific about this particular investigation until they’ve completed it,” Allen said of the compliance officers investigating the Amazon case.
Allen said the OSHA investigators first went to the warehouse on Saturday. Their duties included making sure that workers clearing the rubble at site were following safety procedures, he said.
Emergency action plan
The OSHA website lays out the specifics of what an emergency action plan should look like:
▪ An emergency action plan must be in writing, kept in the workplace and available to employees for review. However, an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees.
And the plan must include the following:
▪ Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency.
▪ Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments.
▪ Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate.
▪ Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation.
▪ Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties.
Comments clarified
State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, released a statement on Tuesday urging OSHA to “conduct a timely and thorough investigation of the facility, including a complete audit of the building codes, building materials and code enforcement in the facility.”
Stuart could not be reached for comment on Thursday about OSHA saying its investigation doesn’t cover building codes and building material. A representative from her office, however, sent an email clarifying her statement.
“We just want to clarify that Katie was only urging OSHA to investigate the above matters,” the email stated. “The important thing is to take a look at the International Building Codes and determine if it provides for adequate protection and safety in buildings such as these warehouses during natural disasters.”
This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 7:00 AM.
